Green Energy/Sustainability

Map of Local CSAs, Food Pantries & Soup Kitchens

Cornell Cooperative Extension
10 Westbrook Lane, Kingston, NY
Phone: 845-340-3990 Fax: 845-340-3993
Cornell Cooperative Extension Ulster County (CCEUC) and several partners are leading an initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic in Kingston, NY through environmental and policy change. Four committees are charged with seeing out the work plan of the grant, and partners are looking for Kingston residents and interested parties to become volunteer members of the committees. You can become involved in the committees in the following ways! More info.

Master Gardener Hotline – 845-340-3478 (DIRT) – March through October M-W-F 9:00am-12:00pm
Master Gardeners, volunteers trained by Extension experts in the art and science of gardening, will also be available in the office for soil testing, plant and insect identification.
Download Volunteer Application/Brochure
CCE Ulster’s 4-H Youth Development Program Volunteer Opportunities
http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/ulster/
Blog
— Gleaning Program, produce donations
— Deer Management, venison donations
— Nutrition Education in Soup Kitchens and Food Pantries

Plant a Row for the Hungry
A people-helping-people program assisting the hungry in Ulster County
A program of the Cornell Cooperative Extension
With the start of the growing and planting season we’re looking for gardeners like you to help feed the hungry in Ulster County by planting an extra row in your garden this summer and signing up to take the excess produce to our office. If you don’t have room to plant an extra row – sign up to donate the excess produce nearly all gardens produce.
We are asking vegetable gardeners to grow a little extra this season, or bring their excess produce to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County, 10 Westbrook Lane, Kingston, NY.
More info or call 845-340-3478 (DIRT).
Printable Brochure

Esopus Creek Conservancy
Esopus Bend Nature Preserve, among New York State’s newest land trust, is a unique 161-acre preserve located partially within both the village and town of Saugerties along a dramatic bend in the Esopus Creek less than a mile from the Hudson River. We are an all-volunteer organization, and volunteers are essential to achieve our goals. Volunteers have worked to restore the meadow area where visitors can now observe a wide variety of wildflowers, birds and butterflies. Environmental education walks are scheduled throughout the year. Partnering with the Catskill Center and the Saugerties school district, we opened up Esopus Bend as an outdoor classroom for local schools. Whether you would like to be called for a special task, serve on a committee, work outdoors on the preserve, or help in some other way, we would like to hear about you and your interests.
www.esopuscreekconservancy.org/

Kingston Land Trust and City Gardens
kingstonlandtrust.org
We depend on the community to join us in our stewardship of the land we protect on behalf of the community. The purpose of this group is to increase urban food production and public access to green space, improve ecosystem functions, beautify spaces in and around the city, and to foster a more harmonious relationship with our natural systems. Also, it provides an opportunity for sharing of knowledge and practical community-based education on the topics that the group’s projects cover, including the following:
– Landscaping, gardening, and farming
– Permaculture and edible forest gardens
– Ecological land management
– Green infrastructure

If you are interested in volunteering on the land, please fill out this volunteer form and/or email landstewardship@kingstonlandtrust.org or visit www.kingstonlandtrust.org for more information.

Mohonk Preserve
Whether you can volunteer weekly, or for just a few hours …
the only requirement is a desire to learn and a willingness to contribute your time and talents to the Preserve.
Join the nearly 400 volunteers who perform a wide variety of services and contribute over 13,000 hours of their energy and skills annually.
As a Mohonk Preserve volunteer, you will receive Ridgelines e-News, enjoy a summer volunteer picnic, and celebrate at our end-of-season Volunteer Appreciation Party. We also offer special tours and other “perks” to our volunteers.
Whether you maintain trails, lead hikes, or share the love of the outdoors with visitors, you will contribute to the protection of this magnificent landscape for future generations. Find out more about the volunteer opportunities at the Preserve.
Each spring we hold training sessions designed to teach you whatever you need to know as a Mohonk Preserve volunteer. If you want to get involved but missed these sessions, our program coordinators can train you individually.
For more information on our volunteer programs and training, contact the Associate Director of Volunteer Programs and Special Events at (845) 255-0919 ext. 1269.
https://www.mohonkpreserve.org/how-to-help/volunteer/volunteer.html

Join Mohonk Preserve’s Trailhead Ambassadors
Become a volunteer Trailhead Ambassador and play a vital role in welcoming new and returning visitors to the Preserve during the busy summer and fall seasons. Share your love of the land by meeting and greeting the visiting public, suggesting hikes, and answering questions. Shifts are on Saturdays and Sundays from 9:30am to 12:30pm and 12:00pm to 3:00pm. This is an outdoor volunteer position located at the Mohonk Preserve Visitor Center. In accordance with state and CDC guidelines, we have instituted new safety standards, including requiring masks and social distancing at the trailheads. Training, snacks, and refreshments provided. Active volunteers receive perks for serving, including access to the land to recreate.
To volunteer or for more information, contact Andy Reynolds, Volunteer Programs Manager, at volunteers@mohonkpreserve.org.

New Paltz GreenWorks
To lower and off-set carbon emissions in our community by educating the public about actions they can take, that make it easier for people to make a difference.
Things you can do today
http://npgreenworks.org/

New Paltz ReUse and Recycling Center
Join us at New Paltz ReUse and make a difference in your local community! We have many opportunities for volunteers to support our mission to enhance community, economy, and environment through ReUse. Whether you can commit to a few hours each week or one weekend a year, we can use your help! The ReUse and Recycling Center is located at 3 Clearwater Road in New Paltz. Open five days a week: Tuesday through Saturday from 9am to 4:30pm Phone (845) 255-8456 or email recycling@townofnewpaltz.org.
http://www.newpaltzreuse.org/

The Rondout-Esopus Land Conservancy
now holds 31 conservation easements governing more than 2,500 acres in Ulster County. The easements are held in Accord, High Falls, Marbletown, Olivebridge, Rosendale, Saugerties, Stone Ridge and West Shokan. The all volunteer organization is a member of the Land Trust Alliance of New York and National Land Trust Alliance and was founded in 1987. There is no requirement that conservancy members must convey property or even own property – just that they support the conservancy’s mission. Contact Laura Traverse at 657-8303. Volunteers are always welcome and appreciated. If you would like to assist in our mission by volunteering, please contact our president, Walter Levy at info@relandconservancy.org or 845-626-3140.
http://www.relandconservancy.org/

Rondout Valley Growers Association, Inc.
http://www.rondoutvalleygrowers.org/
P.O. Box 867 Stone Ridge, NY 12484
Phone: 845-657-5701
info@rondoutvalleygrowers.org
The Rondout Valley Growers Association is a non-profit community organization comprised of local farmers, residents, and businesses that are committed to strengthening the region’s family farms and preserving open space for future generations.
More info, events & volunteer opportunities

Sustainable Hudson Valley/Repair Cafe Hudson Valley
PO Box 145
Rhinebeck NY 12572
Phone: ‭(845) 514-8567‬
http://www.sustainhv.org/
Volunteers needed to help SHV with communications and outreach, research support, office help or fundraising, contact Melissa directly at (845) 514-8567 or at melissa.a.everett@icloud.com. Volunteers also needed at our free Repair Cafes which are held throughout Ulster County; see the calendar at http://www.repaircafehv.org/calendar or email fromer@sustainhv.org for more info.

Student Conservation Association/Hudson Valley Corps
299 Mountain Rest Road New Paltz, NY 12561
Phone: 845-255-4758 Fax: 845-255-6987
http://www.thesca.org/
Celebrating 50 Years of Students Conserving America
Learn more

Walkway Over the Hudson
Walkway Over the Hudson, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit group, works to support and improve Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park by raising funds to improve amenities and provide long-term stewardship to the park. Our critical mission depends upon engaged members, volunteers and donors who share our vision for the park. Learn about specific volunteer opportunities here. http://www.walkway.org

Wallkill Valley Land Trust
is looking for volunteers in the following areas:
(1) Newsletter writing or
(2) Assisting in setting up spring “walks and talks” or
(3) Volunteering for the June House Tour, which includes a pre-tour orientation and other opportunities to assist in organizing the event
To help out please email info@WallkillvalleyLT.org
http://www.wallkillvalleylt.org/

We are also seeking volunteers to be part of the Education Committee of the Wallkill Valley Land Trust.

Your willingness to help, share your ideas and pitch in are all that is needed. Some education or interpretation background, formal or informal, is helpful but not required. The committee meets monthly, virtually for now. A one year commitment is suggested.

Some ways that committee members participate: program research, write or edit articles for our newsletter, plan events, conduct workshops, support or lead our educational programs. We typically host a number of events such as natural history walks, writing workshops, and historic tours. We are hoping to expand the variety of programs that we offer and increase participation by underrepresented groups. We especially welcome new members with experience in outreach through online platforms.

Help us fulfill our mission “to enhance the quality of life in Ulster County by conserving lands of scenic, agricultural, ecological, recreational, and cultural significance.” Our organization is based in New Paltz, but our events and conservation lands are throughout Ulster County.

Interested or have questions? Please contact us at info@WallkillvalleyLT.org

Wallkill Valley Rail Trail Association
Do you enjoy walking along the Rail Trail? Want to help keep our Rail Trail beautiful? Are you willing to lend a hand? As you may know the Wallkill Valley Rail Trail was extended in 2013. It is now a beautiful 24 mile linear park stretching from Gardiner, through the Town and Village of New Paltz and Rosendale to the Town of Ulster. In order to help us maintain the trail we are looking for a few volunteers to either Adopt a section of the trail or to be a Trail Engineer. A description of each is below. If you are interested or would like additional information please email info@wvrta.org. More Info.

Woodstock Land Conservancy
Some of the many areas we need the help of volunteers are:
Trail Monitoring / Stewardship
Help with Land Protection – Easement Monitoring
Administrative Assistance
Photography / Videography
Assistance with Special Events
Assistance with Monthly First Saturday On the Trail hikes
Help with mass mailings 2x a year
Tabling in the community – Farmer’s Market, Woodstock Nights, Library Fair, other events.
Leading a hike or event – sharing an area of expertise
Graphic Design
Many of these are on-going needs.
Visit: www.woodstocklandconservancy.org for more info or to volunteer.